BOYS BASKETBALL: Hightstown coach Don Hess steps down

As first reported by The Trentonian via twitter Friday morning; long-time Hightstown High School boys basketball coach “Doctor” Don Hess handed in his resignation Friday after compiling a 403-365 lifetime record. Hess is the fourth-winningest coach in Mercer County history behind Trenton’s Red Smith, Ewing’s Emil Wandishin and Trenton Catholic’s Father Clarence O’Shea.

“Don Hess ran a very well respected program during his long tenure as head boys basketball coach at Hightstown,” athletic director Gary Bushelli said. “His emphasis on controlling the tempo of the game was a constant challenge to all opponents.

“He was an extremely hard working coach who was meticulous in his preparation for each opponent. We are grateful for Don’s long time service and wish him well.”

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Hess will remain as head coach of girls soccer and girls track & field, but decided he might not have the necessary passion for the sport that has been part of his life since childhood.

“I’ve been contemplating it for so long, I had to make a decision,” Hess said. “The season starts next week. I don’t even know why, but I just made the move.

“I’ve just been thinking about it, with the three sports and the overlap and all the stuff that goes on with it, it’s become too much. I’m gonna miss these kids, coaching basketball has been part of my life since 1971.”

Hess isn’t sure how he will feel and used two coaches – former Hightstown soccer coach John “Wags” Wagner and new Nottingham basketball coach Chris “The Baron” Raba – as conflicting reasons for his uncertainty.

“Like Raba said, he was miserable all the time not coaching,” Hess said with a laugh. “But when I talk to Wags, he says it’s the best decision he’s ever made.

“I’ll probably be back, but who knows? Right now, I need a break. It’s a grind and it’s demanding. If you want to do it right, you gotta scout and put preparation in. And I’ve never been one to cut corners.”

Hess was a 1,000-point scorer at Steinert and a member of the school’s first Athletic Hall of Fame induction class. He went on to captain the University of Cincinnati and began his coaching career in 1971 at Notre Dame High School.

He moved on to Hightstown in 1979, where he has been ever since, except for a seven-year gap when he served as a Mercer County Community College assistant from 1988-95.

At Notre Dame and Hightstown, Hess’ teams won two Mercer County Tournament titles and six Colonial Valley Conference crowns, and reached the state finals twice. The Rams also won Central Jersey Group III in 1982.

Known as one of the top game-day coaches in Mercer County during his tenure with the Irish and Rams, Hess was famous for getting the maximum talent out of teams that would often over-achieve.

He won the Father Clarence O’Shea Coaching award in 2011, the IAABO Award in 1976 and the NJSIAA Sports Award in 1999.

Hess coached seven 1,000-point scorers during his career, but one of his most notable players was a guy who set up those scorers at Notre Dame.

“John Castaldo is one of my favorite players that I ever coached,” Hess said of the current College of New Jersey Athletic Director and esteemed alumnus of the renowned Bronc Basketball School. “He was a great kid and some player.”

Hess sent out an e-mail thanking numerous people for making his career possible, including the Hightstown administration and board of education, athletic directors Vince Ardery (ND) and Bushelli, as well as all his players and assistant coaches.

His long-time assistant Matt Durstewitz, one of the likely candidates to fill the position considering the time constraints, will be running the Rams until a new head coach is officially named. Hightstown returns a young, junior-laden team.

The program has gone on as usual even while Hess debated his decision.

“It’s really mixed emotions, but I’ve been doing the weight room, the practice schedules,” Hess said. “Everything is up to date and all ready to go.

“But the whole time I was doing it, I kept contemplating and finally I just did it. So I’ll try (retirement) for a year and if it doesn’t work maybe I’ll come back. Who knows?”

One thing Hess does know is that coaching basketball has been one of the most enriching aspects of his life.

“I’ve had so many great kids,” he said. “And there are the families I’ve touched and they’ve touched me. That’s the main reason I’ve done it for so long. Just to see the kids excel and move on to the next level.

“I’m thankful the kids bought into my system. I loved seeing the character they built over the years. Some kids come in as problems as freshmen and when they leave they’re upstanding kids in the community.”